Cooper Union: A Unique Institution for the Advancement of Science and Art

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, located in the heart of New York City, stands as a unique institution with a rich history and a commitment to providing a rigorous education in architecture, art, and engineering. Founded in 1859 by the American industrialist Peter Cooper, the college has a long-standing tradition of fostering scholarly thinking, problem-solving, learning, and debate. It aims to prepare talented students to make enlightened contributions to society.

A Historical Overview

Peter Cooper, a workingman's son with less than a year of formal schooling, designed and built America's first steam railroad engine and made a fortune with a glue factory and iron foundry. Cooper's dream was to give talented young people the one privilege he lacked: a good education from an institution which was "open and free to all". To achieve these goals, Cooper designated the bulk of his wealth to The Cooper Union. Originally intended to be named simply "the Union", the Cooper Union began with adult education in night classes on the subjects of applied sciences and architectural drawing, as well as day classes primarily intended for women on the subjects of photography, telegraphy, typewriting and shorthand in what was called the college's Female School of Design. The early institution also had a free reading room open day and night, the first in New York City. In 1883, a five-year curriculum in chemistry was added as an alternative to the applied science (engineering) program. A daytime engineering college was added in 1902, thanks to funds contributed by Andrew Carnegie.

Cooper Union's free classes have evolved into three schools: the School of Art, the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, and the Albert Nerken School of Engineering.

Academic Programs

Cooper Union offers degree programs across three schools:

Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture: Offers a five-year NAAB accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree that prepares students for a variety of opportunities in the profession. The school also offers a post-professional Master of Science in Architecture degree.

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School of Art: Provides a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The program is committed to an integrated curriculum that encompasses the fundamental disciplines and resources of the visual arts including painting, sculpture, drawing, audiovisual, graphic design, photography, and printmaking. The application process for the School of Art and Architecture also requires a home test, an artistic project that asks applicants to respond to prompts.
Albert Nerken School of Engineering: Offers Bachelor of Engineering degrees in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, and a Master of Engineering degree. The program prepares students for leadership and entrepreneurial roles in a world that faces complex political, social, and environmental challenges. The "very focused" engineering program prepares students to be "a functioning member of the engineering community and workforce."

Students develop independence and autonomy through "major projects that offer them a great deal of academic freedom to create their own content." In turn, this environment encourages students to "achieve the most in a short amount of time." Cooper Union offers academics that are "very rigorous, although consistent and achievable with the resources provided."

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences provides the academic integration connecting our three schools. During their first two years, students are required to take a core curriculum in the humanities and social sciences. Students in the School of Art take an additional three-semester sequence in art history. During the third and fourth years, students have considerable latitude to explore the humanities and social sciences through elective courses.

Campus Environment and Student Life

Cooper Union is located in the heart of the East Village, a busy and buzzing metropolitan area that provides students "ample opportunity to explore New York City" and its "abundance of…places of interest." There are well-used meeting areas on campus "for both group study and recreational uses" and clubs and organizations offering a variety of events from "Paint and Chill Night" to runs around the city organized by the Cooper Union Track Club. Students depict a collaborative rather than competitive environment.

The college's location in the heart of New York City is also something to think about. If you thrive in big city environments and want the unique cultural experiences the city has to offer, Cooper Union is a great choice.

Cooper Union is a relatively small institution, with about 1000 total undergrads. Students who thrive in smaller, intimate educational environments might find this appealing. You'd be able to build close relationships with your professors and classmates which can be beneficial academically and professionally.

The Foundation Building and 41 Cooper Square

Cooper Union's Foundation Building is an Italianate brownstone building designed by architect Fred A. Petersen, one of the founders of the American Institute of Architects. It was the first structure in New York City to feature rolled-iron I-beams for structural support; Peter Cooper himself invented and produced these beams. Petersen patented a fire-resistant hollow brick tile he used in the building's construction. The building was the first in the world to be built with an elevator shaft, because Cooper, in 1853, was confident an elevator would soon be invented. The Foundation Building was once the tallest building in Manhattan and the most innovative addition to the city’s landscape. Designed with a rolled iron I-beam infrastructure, it also included an interior shaft that preceded the common use of elevators. The Foundation Building is also a prominent cultural and intellectual destination for its auditorium, the Great Hall.

A new classroom, laboratory, and studio facility designed by Thom Mayne replaced the aging Hewitt Academic Building at 41 Cooper Square. In contrast to the Foundation Building, 41 Cooper Square is of modern, environmentally "green" design, housing nine above-ground floors and two basements. The structure features unconventional architectural features, including a full-height Grand Atrium, prevalent interior windows, a four-story linear central staircase, and upper-level skyways, which reflect the design intention of inspiring, socially interactive space for students and faculty. In addition, the building's design allows for up to 75% natural lighting, further reducing energy costs.

The Great Hall

Peter Cooper believed that public engagement was essential to a thriving democracy and designed the Great Hall within the Foundation Building to do just that. The Great Hall was created to bring America’s most influential pioneers of the 19th century to the citizens of New York City. One of the most famous guests was Abraham Lincoln in February 1860 where he delivered his “Right Makes Might” speech. Widely reported in the press and reprinted throughout the North in pamphlet form, the speech galvanized support for Lincoln and contributed to his gaining the Party's nomination for the presidency. Since then, the Great Hall has served as a platform for historic addresses by American Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Bill Clinton. Other historic speakers in the Great Hall have included Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Victoria Woodhull, Samuel Gompers, and the earliest workers’ rights campaign movements.

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The Great Hall continues to serve as an important metropolitan art space and has hosted lectures and performances by such key figures as Joseph Campbell, Steve Reich, Salman Rushdie, Ralph Nader, Hamza Yusuf, Richard Stallman, Rudolph Giuliani, Pema Chodron, Michael Bloomberg, Evo Morales, and Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez.

Tuition and Financial Aid

What's particularly interesting about Cooper Union is its long-standing tradition of operating tuition-free until 2014. Since then, they've reintroduced tuition but still provide half-tuition scholarships as a baseline for all undergraduates currently valued at $22,275 per school year. Their aim is to return to a full-tuition scholarship model again, which is a rare commitment among colleges. The College admits undergraduates solely on merit and awards half scholarships to all enrolled students; need based aid is also available.

After applying for need-based financial aid, students may be provided additional aid to help cover tuition, room and board, and other related expenses. Sixty-four percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $14,580.

A substantial portion of the annual budget, which supports the half-tuition scholarships in addition to the school's costs, is generated through revenues from real estate. The land under the Chrysler Building is owned by the endowment, and as of 2009, Cooper Union received $7 million per year from this parcel. Further, under a very unusual arrangement, New York City real-estate taxes assessed against the Chrysler lease, held by Aby Rosen, are paid to Cooper Union, not the city.

Career Development

The Center for Career Development encourages “self-accountability, initiative, and autonomy” in all students as they transition to a professional practice. With that in mind, the center offers ample resources to help students find their way, like workshops on portfolio development, self-assessment worksheets, and career counseling tailored to each school. Other center resources include the Cooper Career Connection, the channel that informs students about all career-related events, programs, and forums. The center’s Professional Internship Program for art students formalizes experiential learning and provides an hourly wage for select internships that would otherwise be unpaid, and the Engineering Alumni-Student Career Mentoring Program pairs engineering students with alumni mentors for one year.

Rankings and Recognition

In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is ranked No. #2 in Regional Colleges North. It's also ranked No. #1 in Best Value Schools.

Awards received by Cooper Union alumni include a Nobel Prize in Physics, a Pritzker Prize, 3 National Medal of Arts Awards, 15 Rome Prizes, 26 Guggenheim Fellowships, 3 MacArthur Fellowships, 9 Chrysler Design Awards, 3 Emmy Awards, a Tony, a Grammy, a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, and 3 Thomas Jefferson Awards for Public Architecture.

Admission Information

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy. The acceptance rate of this college is 13%.

Getting to Cooper Union

By auto: From the West Side of upper Manhattan, Cooper Union is best reached by driving south on the West Side Highway to 56th Street and continuing south on 12th Avenue (which becomes West Street). At 12th Street, turn left and take 12th Street to Third Avenue. From the East Side of Manhattan, Cooper Union is best reached by taking the East River Drive to Houston Street. Take Houston Westbound to Bowery. From the East Side, use the FDR Drive and take Exit 5 (Houston Street). Take Houston Street westbound to Lafayette Street. Turn right (north) on Lafayette, and drive to Astor Place. From the West Side, take the West Side Highway to the 14th Street exit. Turn left onto 14th Street to 3rd Avenue and make a right. Please Note: The Cooper Union does not have designated visitor parking.
By subway: Take the R or W (BMT Lines) subway to 8th Street, or take the No.
By air: Taxi service to Cooper Union is available from LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports in New York and from Newark Airport in New Jersey.

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